UFC 264 - Poirier beats McGregor in first round - reaction

Sounded like Dustin Poirier isn't up for doing Poirier v McGregor 4... UFC president Dana White has other ideas though.

"The fight didn't get finished," he said. "You can't have a fight finish that way.

"We'll see how this whole thing plays out. Who knows how long Conor is out?

"Poirier will do his thing till Conor is ready."

It usually comes down to whether the fans want it enough, so how about seeing Poirier and McGregor go at it for a fourth time? Hit thumbs up for 'yes sir', thumbs down for 'nah, it's done'.

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Speaking in the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White says that Conor McGregor broke the lower tibia in his left shin.

Conor McGregor can't end his legacy on this, a freak injury. It won't sit right with him.

But Dustin Poirier moves on. Let's not get away from the fact we got one round of action, and that was categorically won by Poirier.

It was close on the feet, Conor was probably edging it. But as soon as Poirier got the takedown, it was a completely different fight. It was all Dustin Poirier.

He controlled on the ground, landed a lot of big, heavy elbows, some big strikes from ground and pound. He was phenomenal tonight, he should march on and fight Charles Oliveira next for the lightweight belt.

Conor McGregor was clearly frustrated after suffering that freak injury, saying "it's a mad old business".

But he also sounded like a desperate man, almost pleading for another fight with Dustin Poirier. It's a position we've rarely seen him in, if ever.

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Poirier added: "He did hit me with a good cross, just like the last fight. I was a little bit buzzed but my legs were still there.

"The takedown was easy. He was putting his fingers in my glove and pulling me down to throw the up-kicks. I was trying to let Herb [Dean, the referee] know that.

"This guy's a dirtbag."

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Doesn't sound like Poirier will be open to granting McGregor a fourth contest after the Irishman's trash talk in the build-up to this one.

"There's no coming back from that," said the American.

"He was saying he was going to murder me, that I'd leave here in a coffin. You don't talk like that about people.

"I hope he gets home safe to his beautiful family."

Asked if the win was anti-climactic, Poirier talked about karma catching up with McGregor because of what he's said, adding: "Sometimes these things happen. Nah, I beat the guy."

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You wanted a conclusive finish so the trilogy could end but now the trilogy hasn't ended, in my opinion.

We've got to see something else. Conor McGregor can continue. To end it here doesn't sit right with me. I don't think Poirier-McGregor is done.

It was a dominant round by Dustin Poirier but that was a freak injury. It's not like the ankle was being heavily kicked or Conor was using that ankle extensively and then we saw him limping on it.

The second fight was affected by injury, but that was brought on by leg kicks from Poirier. He caused that injury, and he went on to get the finish.

This is different. Conor's own body collapsed under his body weight. Of course, Dustin is the victor, but I see where Conor's coming from, this can't be called a TKO.

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It was a really dominant first round from Dustin Poirier, it's just a shame to see it end the way it did.

There's more controversy around this trilogy. As dominant as Dustin was, the fact it ends in an injury does take something away. There's definitely unfinished business.

McGregor's a fighter first. Despite everything else he's got going on, he'll always want to fight. He's not going to want to go out like this, to let this be the end. He's going to come back and there's many options for him.

McGregor is still sat on the canvas as he chats to Joe Rogan, with a protective case around the bottom of his left leg. He ain't happy, he said he was "boxing his head off and kicking his legs off".

"This is not over," he adds. "If it have to take it outside with him, let's take it outside."

Referring to the build-up (see 5:20), he adds "your wife is in my DM's", followed by a string of expletives.

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Dustin Poirier is chatting with Joe Rogan in the octagon.

He said he felt McGregor's ankle crack when he checked one of his kicks in the first round.

Then when he put weight on it off balance, the damage was really done.

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Oh my, the replays show that Poirier's shot doesn't actually connect properly.

McGregor also threw a punch at the same time but as he then steps back, he steps on his left ankle the wrong way, it rolls over and his leg gives way under his body weight.

With 14 seconds to the bell, Poirier lets McGregor get up then rocks him with a punch, which sends the Irishman to the deck.

With five seconds left, McGregor holds on. Wow, what a round!

Oh, Poirier wriggles free, and with McGregor pinned to the canvas, he slams a series of elbow shots to the Irishman's face.

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Wow... McGregor's got a guillotine hold on Poirier's neck. Looks dangerous this.

Poirier lands a few heavy shots before taking down McGregor and getting him against the fence.

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Fast start from McGregor, with a lot of kicks.

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Barack Obama's successor, Donald Trump, is also in Vegas.

And Poirier-McGregor 3 is now under way folks.

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